Harvest time!!

[KelpticFest]

I'm astonished at my 4 hives of brave little bees this year. They were managed via benign neglect, as I had TWO family members either on hospice or actually hospitalized throughout the summer, and rarely had the time to even crack the top covers. In spite of that, I extracted 10 1/2 gallons on Sunday! It took four people six hours - that's what happens when you're inexperienced - but I emptied 42 shallow frames from my eight-frame hives. I had stored them by removal date, and in one very early frame I found pale honey with the faintest taste of maple. Let's hear it for them bees!

[psfred]

Sounds like a great deal! Glad it worked out for you.

We were going to extract this weekend, but Hurricane Issac is going to be here late tonight and I don't think we will be doing anything outside. Have to drive to Columbus Indiana on Sunday, although we may not make that if the weather is really bad.

Peter

[Jackie Burba]

I'm right there with you Peter Issac has squashed my plans for the golden harvest! At least the hives aren't underwater though.

[JRG13]

I'm pulling frames this afternoon, except it is all of a sudden cold and windy this morning....

[KelpticFest]

Sounds like a great deal! Glad it worked out for you.

We were going to extract this weekend, but Hurricane Issac is going to be here late tonight Peter

Good luck there! I stacked my hives very high last winter to take advantage of the lower hive's heat - found that one of those ratchet straps for loads on trucks was ideal for holding down tall unstable structures (as long as the bottom layer is cinder block).

[KelpticFest]

Went back into the hives - it's been about a month since I harvested. They're practically all honey-bound with brood at the bottom, so I've taken off more boxes, then added back emptied frames. (YES, I got mobbed. YES, I put the rest of the frames out in the back so they wouldn't be such magnets. And the remnants of Isaac came through and not only kept me from finishing cleanup, but drowned hundreds of bees in place. Another lesson learned - at their expense.) At any rate - each hive had at least one full super on top, plus a couple of half-honey-filled shallows below. I put in the empty frames above the deep bases and replaced the part-brood-part-honey ones on top. Did they appreciate it? Not on your nelly. Yesterday's second hive, biggest of all, went berserk and literally chased me off. Three dozen stings, abandoned tools, abandoned honey box (with a sheet over it now), and bees still on the prowl. What IS it with that bunch?? It's the same ones, evey time, and they're right beside the others (they've had every opportunity to learn good manners). Anyway - I already have 10 gallons of honey; these recent takings would probably give me5-6 more. But I think I'll hold them in case the girls need them later. Besides, I can't face extracting again - bottling is sticky enough.

[pamelissalan]

Congrats to you and your bees!! I am wondering if there is a way to extract frames by hand without ruining the comb? Anybody? I want to preserve the comb but I am not ready to buy an extractor yet. Thanx! p

[KelpticFest]

I know that the Worcester bee club here in MA has 3 extractors that can be borrowed by club members. Also, if you have contacts in the bee world, someone might very well let you borrow. After all - how many times a year do we need to get them out of mothballs? I am using a unit owned by someone who got his honey harvested in a much more timely manner.

[huffmanbeekeeping]

I already harvested 200 pounds of honey back on Aug 1st and I'm hoping to get at least that much again sometime this week. I started with 7 hives this spring and bought 3 Nucs and did 3 splits so now I have 13 Hives.

[KelpticFest]

Aren't these critters amazing? I figure my 10 gallons was about 120 lb; if I extract another 5 gal that would be 180 lb total. With that much honey, plus the pain and swelling of yesterday's adventures, I think 4 hives is more than I can handle without retiring!